Internal Audit Manager

Manager, Internal Audit

Hybrid schedule - 3x/week onsite in Davidson NC

Contract to hire

The Manager, Internal Audit supports the Director, Internal Audit in governance, risk management, internal control, and assurance objectives. This role helps execute a comprehensive, risk-based internal audit program that provides independent and objective assurance over financial, operational, compliance, technology, cybersecurity, and Sarbanes-Oxley control risks across the enterprise.

Primary Responsibilities

Audit Planning and Risk Assessment

• Assist in the development and execution of the annual risk-based Internal Audit Plan, including consideration of strategic, operational, financial, compliance, technology, cybersecurity, transformation, vendor, fraud, and emerging risks.
• Conduct enterprise, functional, process-level, and project-specific risk assessments to identify audit priorities and determine appropriate audit responses.
• Incorporate input from management, business process owners, prior audits, SOX testing results, external auditor observations, regulatory developments, and business transformation initiatives into audit planning activities.
• Recommend audit scope, timing, resource needs, and plan adjustments based on changing business priorities, control issues, and risk conditions.

Audit Execution and Reporting

• Lead and manage operational, financial, compliance, technology, and SOX audit engagements from planning through reporting and issue follow-up.
• Evaluate the adequacy and effectiveness of governance processes, risk management practices, internal controls, policies, procedures, and management monitoring activities.
• Assess compliance with Company policies, applicable laws and regulations, accounting and control requirements, and relevant industry standards.
• Develop audit scopes, planning documents, risk and control matrices, testing strategies, walkthrough documentation, audit programs, workpapers, and evidence requests.
• Review audit workpapers and supporting documentation to ensure conclusions are accurate, complete, well-supported, and consistent with Internal Audit methodology.
• Prepare clear, practical, and well-supported audit reports that communicate risks, root causes, business impacts, ratings, recommendations, ownership, and remediation expectations.
• Present audit results, control observations, process improvement opportunities, and remediation status to management and, as needed, executive leadership.

SOX Compliance and Internal Controls

• Support the company's SOX compliance program, including scoping, walkthroughs, control design assessment, operating effectiveness testing, deficiency evaluation, remediation tracking, and management reporting.
• Lead Internal Audit testing activities designed to support external auditor reliance strategies and regulatory expectations.
• Coordinate with control owners, process owners, Finance, IT, and external auditors to align testing approaches, documentation standards, evidence requirements, timing, and audit quality expectations.
• Evaluate key controls supporting significant accounts, entity-level controls, IT general controls, application controls, and key business processes.
• Ensure Internal Audit workpapers and testing documentation are accurate, complete, well-supported, and prepared to facilitate external auditor reliance.
• Monitor, validate, and document management's remediation of control deficiencies and process improvement actions.
• Identify opportunities to reduce duplicate testing, rationalize controls, automate procedures, and improve audit efficiency while maintaining audit quality and professional standards.

Leadership, Supervision, and Talent Development

• Supervise, coach, and develop internal audit associates through engagement oversight, technical guidance, performance feedback, and professional development support.
• Provide day-to-day direction to co-sourced resources and external service providers, including scope coordination, work review, quality expectations, and project status management.
• Promote a high-performance team environment grounded in accountability, collaboration, continuous learning, professional skepticism, and audit quality.
• Support recruiting, onboarding, succession planning, resource planning, and skill development activities for the Internal Audit department.

Continuous Improvement and Strategic Initiatives

• Use data analytics, automation, continuous monitoring, and AI-enabled audit techniques to improve audit effectiveness, efficiency, insight generation, and reporting.
• Design and execute data-driven audit procedures using ERP data, business intelligence tools, analytics platforms, and relevant business process data.
• Identify opportunities to leverage artificial intelligence, advanced analytics, and automation to strengthen risk assessment, testing, reporting, and continuous auditing capabilities.
• Improve Internal Audit methodologies, templates, documentation standards, issue tracking, quality assurance, and stakeholder communication.
• Support special projects, investigations, due diligence activities, transformation initiatives, system implementations, governance reviews, and enterprise risk initiatives as requested.
• Remain current on developments in internal auditing, risk management, governance, accounting, SOX, cybersecurity, technology, regulatory requirements, and the industrial distribution industry.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Information Systems, or a related discipline required.
• Master's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Information Systems, or a related discipline preferred.

Professional Certifications

Professional certification is strongly preferred. Candidates should possess one or more of the following certifications or be actively pursuing certification:

• Certified Internal Auditor (CIA)
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
• Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)
• Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE)
• Other relevant audit, risk, compliance, cybersecurity, analytics, or technology certifications
• CIA, CPA, or CISA certification is strongly preferred for candidates considered for this position.

Experience

• Minimum of five years of progressive experience in internal audit, public accounting, SOX, risk management, compliance, operational auditing, IT audit, or a related field.
• Experience leading operational, financial, compliance, technology, and SOX-based audit engagements.
• Experience auditing ERP environments, including SAP S/4HANA, preferred.
• Experience evaluating automated controls, application controls, system implementations, master data governance, and technology-enabled business processes.
• Experience reviewing controls, evaluating audit evidence, preparing audit reports, and communicating findings to management.
• Prior supervisory, team leadership, project management, or engagement management experience preferred.
• Experience within a publicly traded company, Big Four accounting firm, public company external audit environment, or industrial distribution business is desirable.

Knowledge, Skills, and Competencies

• Strong understanding of the Global Internal Audit Standards issued by The Institute of Internal Auditors.
• Strong knowledge of the COSO Internal Control and Enterprise Risk Management frameworks.
• Comprehensive understanding of SOX compliance, ICFR concepts, key control evaluation, deficiency assessment, remediation practices, and external auditor reliance expectations.
• Working knowledge of IT general controls, application controls, cybersecurity risks, system implementation risks, data governance, vendor risk, and technology-enabled control environments.
• Familiarity with SAP GRC, segregation of duties, user access controls, business process controls, SAP reporting tools, and SAP S/4HANA or similar ERP environments is desirable.
• Ability to design and execute data-driven audit procedures using ERP data, business intelligence tools, analytics platforms, and continuous monitoring techniques.
• Experience with Power BI, SQL, Alteryx, ACL, IDEA, SAP reporting tools, or similar analytics platforms preferred.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, root cause analysis, risk assessment, and professional judgment capabilities.
• Excellent written, verbal, presentation, facilitation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to build credibility and influence stakeholders while maintaining Internal Audit independence and objectivity.
• Ability to manage multiple engagements, priorities, deadlines, and stakeholders in a dynamic business environment.
• Strong project management, organization, coaching, review, and quality assurance skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, audit management tools, data analytics platforms, and other technology used to support audit execution and reporting.

Leadership Expectations

• Demonstrate the highest standards of integrity, objectivity, confidentiality, independence, and professional judgment.
• Build trusted relationships across the company while remaining objective, fact-based, and independent in audit conclusions.
• Promote accountability, continuous improvement, operational excellence, and strong internal controls across the organization.
• Support strategic objectives by proactively identifying, evaluating, and communicating business risks and control improvement opportunities.
• Develop audit talent through coaching, engagement feedback, knowledge sharing, and clear performance expectations.
<